ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Special Service and Features
Demonstration of Cost-Effective Toilet units by CSIR-SERC at Govt Panchayat Middle School, Mootaikaaran Chavadi, Chennai
Sanitation is the basic fundamental requirement for the public and to have a hygienic and quality toilets. SWACHH BHARATH aims at promoting cleanliness and sanitation coverage for improving the quality of life in both rural and urban areas. CSIR 800 program was aimed at improving the quality of life of common people with the help of science and technology. Quality and speedy construction of toilets are essential to meet the massive demand of providing toile facilities to all for eradicating open defecation. Considering this, CSIR-SERC has developed cost-effective and durable toilet units with thin precast concrete segmental panels for rapid installation. The components of the toilet unit are precast and lightweight, while ensuring good corrosion resistance. The units are easy to transport, and assemble at the site in few hours. The total cost of a toilet unit at the user end is about Rs.15000/-. Mass production will reduce the cost further. The developed technology is modular and can be made use for cluster of toilet units.
Rotary Club of Madras has visited CSIR-SERC and shown interest in this technology with the aim of providing toilet facilities in various government schools in Tamil Nadu. In view of this, CSIR-SERC has demonstrated the cost-effective toilet technology in one of the government schools in Chennai, where there is a shortage of toilet facilities, and for wider reach to the public, government authorities and NGOs. CSIR-SERC has demonstrated the technology by installing two precast service core units at the government panchayat middle school, Mootaikaaran Chavadi, Chennai. Director, CSIR-SERC has inaugurated facility and handed over to the above government panchayat middle school on 2nd August 2023. During the inauguration of technology demonstration, Advisor management, Head, ACTEL, Dr. J. Prabhakar, Chief Scientist, developer of the technology, Dr. Lakshmikandhan, Senior scientist, CSIR-SERC, students, staff members, head master of the school, local Panchayat ward member, Mr. Ravindran . Mr. Gopi Ramu , Mr. Sriram Natesh , Mr. Santhosh , Mr. Raja  from the Madras Rotary club participated during the inauguration.
Ministry of Power
New vertical set up by NHPC Ltd. For development of renewable energy, Small Hydro and Green Hydrogen Projects
NHPC Limited has set up a new wholly owned subsidiary company namely “NHPC RENEWABLE ENERGY LIMITED ”, for development of Renewable Energy, Small Hydro and Green Hydrogen based business of NHPC Ltd. The Subsidiary has been incorporated with the Registrar of Companies, NCT of Delhi & Haryana. Speaking on the occasion, Shri A.K. Singh, CMD, NHPC said that NHPC has envisaged to become a global leading organization for sustainable development of clean power. The incorporation of NHPC Renewable Energy Limited shows our deep commitment towards tapping Renewable Energy which helps in reduction of carbon emissions and in producing clean and green energy. The decision of setting up a subsidiary for renewable energy comes at a time when NHPC which is predominantly a Hydro player, plans to increase the share of renewable energy in its generation portfolio.
Earlier, the formation of the separate renewable energy unit got the nod of Department of Investment and Public Asset Management and NITI Aayog in December ‘2021. The Subsidiary Company shall develop Renewable Energy Projects either in Stand-alone mode or through formation of Special Purpose Vehicles with collaboration of other agencies.
Currently, NHPC’s total installed generation capacity stands at 7071 mega-watt  which includes 100 MW of Solar/ Wind energy-based plants. Another 5999 of Hydro and 105 MW of Solar Plants are under construction. NHPC Ltd. Is expanding its renewable energy portfolio and has taken up several projects under different modes, which are presently under tendering / development stage. Recently, NHPC signed Letter of Intent with Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited  for “Development of 10000 MW Renewable Energy Projects / Parks in Rajasthan”
Ministry of Defence
INS Tarkash at St Denis, Reunion Islands, France
As part of Indian Navy's Overseas Deployment to Africa, Europe and Russia, Indian Naval Ship Tarkash arrived at St Denis, Reunion Island, France today, on 03 Oct 19 for a three day visit. INS Tarkash, commanded by Captain Sathish Vasudev, is a potent frontline frigate of the Indian Navy equipped with a versatile range of weapons and sensors. The ship is part of the Indian Navy's Western Fleet and under the Operational Command of Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, based at Mumbai.
During the port call, the Commanding Officer will pay courtesy calls on various dignitaries and government officials at Reunion Island including the Superior Commander of French Naval Forces in Southern Indian Ocean, Prefect of Reunion Island and the Mayor of Le Port. Professional interactions between the French and Indian Navies are planned towards further enhancing co-operation. In addition, social engagements, sports events and best practices will also be shared between the two Navies.
France and India have traditionally enjoyed warm and friendly bilateral relations, sharing common values of democracy, development and secularism which was upgraded to the level of a 'Strategic Partnership' in 1998. There have been regular high level exchanges and interactions in numerous fields between both countries. The Navies of both nations have recently engaged in one of the most complex and major Maritime Exercise 'VARUNA 2019' in the Indian Ocean, involving the participation of Carrier Task Groups from both sides and conduct of full-spectrum Naval operations.
Indian Navy ships are regularly deployed overseas as part of Indian Navy's mission of building 'bridges of friendship' and strengthening international cooperation with friendly countries.
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Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Union Health Ministry advises Maharashtra, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh on Delta Plus Variant, currently a Variant of Concern 
States to take up immediate containment measures, enhanced testing, tracking and vaccination in districts and clusters where the Delta Plus variant is found
Adequate samples of positive persons to be promptly sent to designated laboratories of INSACOG so that the clinical epidemiological correlations can be made
Government of India has been proactively working towards effective COVID-19 management by sustained strengthening of multi-level health and testing infrastructure, and through focussed Public Health Measures in active collaboration with the States. Union Health Ministry has from time to time alerted the State Governments on critical points in the trajectory of COVID-19 for implementing an effective Public Health Response under a “whole of government” approach.
Based on the recent findings of INSACOG, the Union Health Ministry has alerted and advised Maharashtra, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh regarding the Delta Plus variant of COVID19 being found in some districts in these States.
Union Health Secretary has communicated to these three states this variant has been found in genome sequenced samples from Ratnagiri and Jalgaon Districts of Maharashtra; Palakkad and Pathanamthitta Districts of Kerala; and Bhopal and Shivpuri Districts of Madhya Pradesh.
INSACOG is a consortium of 28 laboratories of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Dept. of Biotechnology, Indian Council of Medical Research  and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research  for whole genome sequencing in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. INSACOG is tasked with not just the whole genome sequencing but also for giving timely inputs on appropriate Public Health Response measures to be adopted by States and UTs. INSACOG has informed that the Delta Plus Variant, currently a Variant of Concern , has the following characteristics:
- Increased transmissibility
- Stronger binding to receptors of lung cells
- Potential reduction in monoclonal antibody response
The Union Health Ministry has advised Maharashtra, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh that the Public Health Response measures, while broadly remaining the same as have been implemented by them earlier, have to become more focused and effective. The States Chief Secretaries have been advised to take up immediate containment measures in the districts and clusters  including preventing crowds & intermingling of people, widespread testing, prompt tracing as well as vaccine coverage on a priority basis.
They were also advised to ensure that adequate samples of positive persons are promptly sent to the designated laboratories of INSACOG so that clinical epidemiological correlations can be made for further guidance to be provided to States.
Ministry of Finance
CBIC gathers Direct Stakeholder Feedback on New GST Return System
As per the initiative of the Finance Minister to obtain direct feedback on the New GST Return System, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs  has conducted ‘Stakeholders Feedback Divas’ on new GST Return System, in CGST Zone, Mumbai December 7, 2019. The New Return System is planned to be rolled out with effect from April 1, 2020.
CGST Mumbai Zone has organized the Stakeholder Feedback Divas under the leadership of Chief Commissioner CGST, Ms. Sungita Sharma, at sixteen locations covering Mumbai City, Suburban area, Navi Mumbai and also far-flung places such as Boisar and Vasai, thereby covering a tax base of around 3 lakh assessees. The Chief Commissioner personally visited the locations to interact with the taxpayers and departmental officers to assess the success of the outreach programme.
This step is in line with Government’s policy to make the tax administration more tax payer friendly and make tax returns simple and transparent.
All eleven Tax Payer Services Commissionerates of the zone conducted workshops, facilitating direct interaction of chartered accountants, tax practitioners and tax payers with departmental officers. Special facilities were made in every Commissionerate to provide 10-15 computers and laptops, for real-time hands-on experience.
This interactive exercise has given first-hand experience to the participants and has also helped the department to gather valuable feedback, which would further improve and make the New Return System more user-friendly.
This initiative has been whole-heartedly welcomed by the trade and industry.
Ministry of Education
Meeting of India-Norway Joint Working Group on Higher Education held
India hosted the 6th meeting of the India-Norway Joint Working Group on Higher Education on 11th October 2022 in New Delhi.
The meeting was chaired by Ms. Neeta Prasad, Joint Secretary, International Cooperation, Ministry of Education from Indian side and by Ms. Anne Line Wold, Director General, Ministry of Education and Research from Norwegian side. The Ambassador of Norway to India also participated in the meeting.
The Joint Working Group was established to monitor and oversee the implementation of the MoU on Cooperation in the field of Higher Education signed between India and Norway on 25th April 2022.
The two sides reviewed the progress made under the Indo-Norwegian Cooperation Programme developed under the ambit of the previous India-Norway MoU signed in 2014 and deliberated upon overall higher education policy and priorities, student/faculty mobility and cooperation in the field of skill development.
Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
National Programme to mark World Bee Day to be held in Gujarat on May 20, 2022
Agriculture Minister to Inaugurate honey testing labs at 7 locations in 5 states on World Bee Day
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare , Government of India is celebrating World Bee Day on 20th May, 2022 at Tent City -II, Ekta Nagar, Narmada, Gujarat. The World Bee Day celebration would be graced by Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The MoA&FW is observing this significant day to promote beekeeping for the benefit of small farmers of the country under the guidance of Hon'ble Prime Minister. The Union Agriculture Minister will also inaugurate Honey Testing Lab & Processing Units to be setup in J&K in Pulwama, Bandipura and Jammu, Tumkur in Karnataka, Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, Pune in Maharashtra & Uttarakhand in virtual mode from Gujarat.
The UN General Assembly declared 20th May as World Bee Day in order to create awareness on the pivotal role of bees and other pollinators in keeping people and the planet healthy. Union Agriculture Minister will be Chief Guest at this event. Shri Kailash Choudhary and Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, Ministers of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Agriculture Minister, Govt. of Gujarat, Sushri Mateja Vodeb, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia, Sushri Konda Reddy Chavva, FAO representative in India, senior officers of MoA&FW, GOI and Government of Gujarat & all related stakeholders associated with honey production will participate in the programme.
During this celebration, many stalls will be set up by Beekeepers, Processors and different stakeholders of beekeeping sector in the Exhibition to showcase the diverse varieties of honey bee and different products in beekeeping sector. A stall will also be set up by the Indian Bank, the implementing agency for ‘Madhukranti’ Portal for the live Registration of Beekeepers on the Portal during this event.
Technical sessions on “Production Technology and Research & Development of Scientific Beekeeping- Experience Sharing and Challenges” and “Marketing Challenges and Solutions  & Discussion” will also be held to upgrade the scientific knowledge of beekeeping among farmers/beekeepers.
The programme is aimed at promoting and popularizing beekeeping nation-wide. National Beekeeping & Honey Mission  of the Govt. of India under AatmaNirbhar Bharat is implemented through the National Bee Board for overall promotion of scientific beekeeping & entrepreneurship among small & marginal farmers, infrastructure development for postharvest management and support for research & development and to achieve the goal of “Sweet Revolution”.
Ministry of Home Affairs
Union Home Secretary reviewed steps taken by State Governments of Kerala and Maharashtra for checking the spread of COVID-19
Union Home Secretary chaired a meeting here today through video conferencing to review the steps taken by the State Governments of Kerala and Maharashtra for checking the spread of COVID-19.
During the meeting, the overall management of COVID-19 situation in Kerala and Maharashtra was discussed. Union Home Secretary reviewedthe efforts being made by the state governments to contain the spread of infectionsand observed that more efforts would be required to arrest the increase in infections. This would require adequate intervention in geographical areas having higher infection, through measures such as contact tracing, vaccination drives and COVID appropriate behavior. He also suggested that the state governments should explore the possibility of placing night curfew in areas of high positivity.
The state governments were advised that they should continue with their vaccination programmes and incase they required more vaccines, the same would be provided to the extent possible. However, efforts must be made to consume the vaccine doses received. It was also emphasized that along with vaccination COVID appropriate behavior must also continue to be encouraged and events with potential of having mass gatherings during the coming festive season must be avoided. It was also advised that testing must be ramped up in areas in the two states where positivity rates are being found to be on the higher side. Focus should also be placed over the next few months to suppress the levels of transmission of the virus so that the chain of transmission can be controlled more effectively.
The meeting was attended by Dr. V.K. Paul, Member , NITI Aayog; Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GoI; Director, National Centre for Communicable Disease and Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police of Kerala and Maharashtra.
Special Service and Features
Olympian M.D Valsamma inaugurates Yuva Sangam visit in Kerala
31 May 2023,
Palakkad: A delegation of 43 youth of diverse backgrounds from Uttar Pradesh
reached IIT Palakkad as part of the second phase of the government’s ambitious cultural and
educational endeavor ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Yuva Sangam’. M.D Valsamma, former
athlete and Padmashree awardee inaugurated the YuvaSangam visit in a formal ceremony held
at the IIT Palakkad campus today. Prof. A. Seshadri Sekhar, Director, IIT Palakkad presided
over the function.
The Yuva Sangam Uttar Pradesh group of young individuals, along with five faculty members
and staff from the nodal institute Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology  in
Allahabad, were warmly greeted in a traditional manner. The team will stay here until 7th June
and experience the culture of Kerala.
The primary focus of this visit is to enhance the understanding of the rich cultural and traditional
values between Uttar Pradesh and Kerala. Additionally, it aims to foster a deeper connection
between the people of the states involved, contributing to the overall vision of a united and
culturally vibrant India. Furthermore, the agenda includes promoting tourism, tradition, progress,
technology, and facilitating mutual contact.
The itinerary for the visiting delegates includes a diverse range of activities such as visits to
Kalady Sree Sankara Sthoopam, Kodanad Elephant Training Centre, Parambikulam,
Kuthampully handloom village, Kalpathy heritage village, Malampuzha Dam, industrial visit to
BEML, Pudussery Panchayat, and interactions with the local community.
A brainchild of the Ministry of Education, the ‘Yuva Sangam’ Youth Exchange program under Ek
Bharat Shreshtha Bharat aims to strengthen people-to-people connections, especially between
the youth of different states, and introduce to them the culture and values of India. The idea of
Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat was conceptualized and structured by the Hon’ble Prime Minster
Sh. Narendra Modi created a cultural connection between the various states of India.
The campaign also aims to expose youth who embody not just immense talent, global
knowledge, the spirit of creativity, and innovation but also revisit cultural values that reflect the
country’s humane philosophy. This initiative was launched in February this year and the first
phase of Yuva Sangam had an overwhelming participation of 1200 youngsters, with the first
batch visiting northeast India.
In the function, Prof. Jagadeesh Bayry, Dr. Ganesh Natarajan
, Dr. Rajesh Tripathy , Dr. Subhasis Mitra were
also present. The event was brought to life by a dynamic Mohiniyattam performance of Dr.
Kalamandalam Rachitha Ravi and a captivating musical concert by Dr. Nikhil Krishnan M.
Prime Minister's Office
PM speaks to Emmanuel Macron; congratulates him on the victory in French Presidential election
PM speaks to Emmanuel Macron; congratulates him on the victory in French Presidential election
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has spoken to Mr. Emmanuel Macron, congratulating him on the victory in French Presidential election.
“Called President Emmanuel Macron to convey my congratulations on his victory in the French Presidential election.
I look forward to working with President Emmanuel Macron to further deepen cooperation between India and France”, the Prime Minister tweeted from his Twitter Account.
Ministry of Defence
NCC cadets campaign against tobacco on World No Tobacco Day
National Cadet Corps  cadets took a solemn oath to say a big no to the use of tobacco on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day on May 31, 2022. During this nationwide campaign, the NCC cadets organised rallies, enacted street plays, distributed leaflets and used all available means to sensitise the masses to stay away from tobacco.
Scientific evidence has linked tobacco use to rise in incidence of a number of ailments leading to deterioration of quality of life of people and avoidable deaths. The objective of the World No Tobacco Day is to enlighten people about the deadly components of the tobacco and its ill effects and to encourage people to claim their right to health and healthy living and to protect future generations.
With the strength of more than 15 lakh cadets, National Cadet Corps  is the largest uniformed and disciplined youth organisation in the world and undertakes extensive social awareness campaigns as part of its contribution to the Society.
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Prime Minister's Office
PM condoles the passing away of Justice Leila Seth
PM condoles the passing away of Justice Leila Seth
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of Justice Leila Seth.
"Saddened by the passing away of Justice Leila Seth. Her remarkable contribution to the legal field will be remembered. My condolences", the Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister's Office
Prime Minister inaugurates to & fro Sea-plane Service between Kevadia and Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad
The Prime Minister inaugurated Water Aerodrome at Kevadia and the Sea-plane Service connecting Statue of Unity in Kevadia with Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad.
Shri Modi also inaugurated Water Aerodrome in Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad and the SeaPlane Service from Sabarmati Riverfront to Kevadia. These are part of a series of Water Aerodromes being planned to bring the last mile connectivity.
Seaplanes have the ability to land and take-off from water thus offering access to areas that do not have landing strips or runways. Thus it can help in connecting the geographies/regions that have challenges owing to its topography and bring the remotest parts of India into the mainstream aviation network without the high cost of building airports and runways. These smaller fixed wing airplanes can land on water bodies like lakes, backwaters and dams, gravel and grass, thus offering easy access to numerous tourist spots as well.